Hunt for mugger after knifepoint robbery

7:36am Wednesday 19th March 2008

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A THIEF brandishing a knife forced a terrified man to hand over cash and a mobile phone.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened in Blackburn at 6pm yesterday.

A 21-year-old man was approached by a man at the entrance to an alleyway off Longton Close in the Audley area.

The offender asked the man for the time.

When the aggrieved got out his mobile phone to look, the offender grabbed the phone.

There was a brief scuffle before the offender produced a knife and threatened to stab him.

The thug then searched him for money and took £45 from his pockets, before running off with the cash and phone, across Accrington Road and into Hozier Street.

He is described as being Asian, in his late 20s, about 5ft 9in, of medium build with broad shoulders, and had a flat, thin chin with red blemishes.

He was wearing a royal blue Reebok hooded top, and green or grey tracksuit bottoms.

A police spokesman said: "This was a terrifying ordeal for the aggrieved, and we would ask anybody in the area at the time who may have seen the individual, or knows who he might be to contact us on 01254 51212."